Philosophy 391 - 20th
century Anglo-American Philosophy
Professor:
William Sweet
Office: 707 Nicholson Tower
Telephone: 867-2341
E-mail: wsweet@stfx.ca
Office Hours: Tuesday 9.15-11.15; Wednesday and
Thursday, 3:15 p.m.-5:00 p.m., and by arrangement
Course Description:
Presents some of the major currents of philosophy in the
English-speaking world in the 20th century. The course
includes a brief account of 19th-century empiricism,
pragmatism, and idealism, before turning to ‘common sense
analysis’ (e.g., G.E. Moore), and early discussions of logical
positivism and the implications for metaphysics, ethics, and
aesthetics (e.g., Bertrand Russell, A.J. Ayer, and Karl
Popper). The course concludes with a discussion of some major
themes in Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations,
and key texts in ‘ordinary language philosophy’ (e.g., Gilbert
Ryle, P.F. Strawson, J.L. Austin) and reactions to it (e.g.,
W.V.O. Quine).
For the course readings, please see the stfx moodle page:
http://moodle.stfx.ca